Coach Kim Sang-sik: 'Joy will double when overcoming adversity'

TPO - The Korean strategist affirmed that the Vietnamese team is ready for the challenge at Bukit Jalil, aiming to win all 3 points despite the loss of players and pressure from thousands of Malaysian spectators.

After nearly a week of gathering, coach Kim Sang-sik expressed his satisfaction with the training spirit of the Vietnamese team, although some players were late in the preparation process. "The team started gathering on May 30. Although some players from CAHN and Binh Duong arrived late, the whole team quickly got into the rhythm and showed very good spirit," said Mr. Kim.

According to the Korean strategist, the team suffered a significant loss of strength when striker Nguyen Cong Phuong was forced to withdraw due to injury. Cong Phuong's experience was valuable in the match against Malaysia, but the team still has 23 players and will continue to perfect their playing style with the highest determination.

Referring to Vietnam's impressive record against Malaysia over the past decade, Coach Kim said it was the result of careful preparation and confidence from the players: "I hope the whole team will continue to maintain this confidence in the next match."

However, coach Kim Sang-sik frankly admitted the significant challenges the team faces. In addition to many key players missing due to injury, Malaysia has added 8-10 new naturalized players, making it more difficult to analyze the opponent.

A highlight of this training session is the appearance of rookie Cao Pendant Quang Vinh – a versatile player who can play from left center back, full back to winger. Coach Kim emphasized: “Quang Vinh’s flexibility opens up many tactical options for the team. I will continue to analyze to maximize the abilities of him and other players.

Facing the pressure from more than 80,000 spectators at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Coach Kim said that mental preparation is of utmost importance: "We played under great pressure at Rajamangala in Thailand in the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup final. The important thing is that the players must believe in themselves, their teammates and the coaching staff to overcome the pressure."

The Vietnamese team will leave for Malaysia on the morning of June 6. Before the match, Coach Kim once again reaffirmed his goal: "Each match has its own pressure, but the joy will be doubled when we overcome difficulties and win. We aim to win all 3 points."

Captain Do Duy Manh also shared the team's determination: "The match at Bukit Jalil is certainly not easy, but with solidarity, careful preparation and clear tactics, we will try our best to achieve the best result."

Trong Dat

Source: https://tienphong.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-niem-vui-se-nhan-doi-khi-vuot-qua-nghich-canh-post1748345.tpo